SVT - Supra Ventricular Tachycardia Coronary Arteries Overview LMS Supraventricular tachycardia is defined as an abnormally fast heartbeat. It's a describes a group of arrhythmias which all originate from above the ventricle OM1 (pumping chamber). OM2 A normal heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute. A heart rate of more than 100 beats D1 per minute is called a tachycardia. It may feel like a fluttering or racing heart. Most people with rare episodes of supraventricular tachycardia live healthy lives without restrictions RCA or interventions. For others, treatment can often control or eliminate rapid heartbeats. CX Types There are different types of SVT. D2 Atrial tachycardia originates from either a single or several different spots located in the Atria (collecting chambers). It is often seen i patients suffering from COPD. AVNRT is an abbreviation for AV NodalPDA Re-entry Tachycardia. RPL LAD This is the most commonly found SVT. It is often seen in younger patients or children. It is not life LMS Left main stem threatening but can be disabling and causes usually dizziness or breathlessness. LAD Left anterior descending Occasionally it can cause patients to pass out. The cause for this arrhythmia is a short coronary artery circuit of the electrical wiring located directly within the AV node itself. The AV node D1 1st Diagonal branch the cardiac electrical conduction system which controls the passing of Diagonal branch D2is part 2ndof impulses from the Atrium to the Ventricle. It is usually the only structure in CXelectric Circumflex coronary artery the heart which allows electricity to pass from the Atrium to the Ventricle. OM1 1st Obtuse marginal artery OM2 2nd Obtuse marginal artery RCA Right coronary artery Patient information PDA Posterior descending coronary artery RPL Right postero-lateral branch www.kentcardio.com Page 1! of 7!
AVRT stands for AV Re-entry tachycardia and is slightly different from AVNRT in that the short circuit involves an additional wire bypassing the AV node. This additional wire is called an accessory pathway (AP) and can be located on the left or right side of the heart and in some instances patients may even have more than one accessory pathway. Often the resting ECG allows to diagnose the presence of an AP as it can show a delta wave. WPW or Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is an old fashioned term for this condition. Other types of supraventricular tachycardia include: Sinus tachycardia Inappropriate sinus tachycardia (IST) Multifocal atrial tachycardia (MAT) Junctional ectopic tachycardia (JET) Nonparoxysmal junctional tachycardia (NPJT) Symptoms Supraventricular tachycardia may come and go suddenly, with stretches of normal heart rates in between. Symptoms may last anywhere from seconds to hours and some people have no symptoms at all. SVT becomes a problem when it occurs frequently and is ongoing, particularly if you have heart damage or other coexisting medical problems. Signs and symptoms of supraventricular tachycardia may include: A fluttering in your chest Rapid heartbeat (palpitations) Shortness of breath Lightheadedness or dizziness Patient information www.kentcardio.com Page 2! of 7!
Sweating A pounding sensation in the neck Fainting (syncope) or near fainting When to see a doctor Supraventricular tachycardia is generally not life-threatening unless you have other heart disorders. Some signs and symptoms, such as shortness of breath, weakness, dizziness, lightheadedness and fainting or near fainting, may be related to a serious health condition. Seek urgent medical care if you suddenly or frequently experience any of these signs and symptoms at a time when you wouldn't expect to feel them. In extreme cases, an episode of SVT may cause you to pass out. Causes For some people, a supraventricular tachycardia episode is related to an obvious trigger, such as psychological stress, lack of sleep or physical activity. For others, there may be no noticeable trigger. Things that may lead to, or cause, an episode include: Heart failure Thyroid disease Heart disease Chronic lung disease Smoking Drinking too much alcohol Consuming too much caffeine Drug use, such as cocaine and methamphetamines Certain medications, including asthma medications and over-the-counter cold and allergy drugs Patient information www.kentcardio.com Page 3! of 7!
Surgery Pregnancy Certain health conditions, such as Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome Risk factors Supraventricular tachycardia is the most common type of arrhythmia in infants and children. It also tends to occur twice as often in women, particularly pregnant women, though it may occur in either sex. Other factors that may increase your risk of supraventricular tachycardia include: Age. Some types of SVT are more common in people who are middle-aged or older. Coronary artery disease, other heart problems and previous heart surgery. Narrowed heart arteries, a heart attack, abnormal heart valves, prior heart surgery, heart failure, cardiomyopathy and other heart damage increase your risk of developing supraventricular tachycardia. Congenital heart disease. Being born with a heart abnormality may affect your heart's rhythm. Thyroid problems. Having an overactive or underactive thyroid gland can increase your risk of supraventricular tachycardia. Drugs and supplements. Certain over-the-counter cough and cold medicines and certain prescription drugs may contribute to an episode of supraventricular tachycardia. Anxiety or emotional stress Physical fatigue Diabetes. Your risk of developing coronary artery disease and high blood pressure greatly increases with uncontrolled diabetes. Obstructive sleep apnea. This disorder, in which your breathing is interrupted during sleep, can increase your risk of supraventricular tachycardia. Nicotine and illegal drug use. Nicotine and illegal drugs, such as amphetamines and cocaine, may profoundly affect the heart and trigger an episode of supraventricular tachycardia. Patient information www.kentcardio.com Page 4! of 7!
Complications Over time, untreated and frequent episodes of supraventricular tachycardia may weaken the heart and lead to heart failure, particularly if you have other coexisting medical conditions (Tachycardiomyopathy). Prevention To prevent an episode of supraventricular tachycardia, it's important to know what triggers the episodes to occur and try to avoid them. You might want to try: Eating a heart-healthy diet Increasing your physical activity Avoiding smoking Keeping a healthy weight Limiting or avoiding alcohol Reducing stress Getting plenty of rest Using over-the-counter medications with caution, as some cold and cough medications contain stimulants that may trigger a rapid heartbeat Avoiding stimulant drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamines For most people with supraventricular tachycardia, moderate amounts of caffeine do not trigger an episode. Large amounts of caffeine should be avoided. Consider keeping a diary to help identify your triggers. Track your heart rate, symptoms and activity at the time of an SVT episode. Diagnosis To diagnose supraventricular tachycardia, I will review your symptoms and your medical history and conduct a physical examination. I might check for onditions that can trigger SVT, such as heart disease or a problem with your thyroid gland. The key test is however a ECG during an episode. Patient information www.kentcardio.com Page 5! of 7!
There are different options available to catch a SVT episode and a lot depends on how frequently these episodes occur. Most commonly I will either use and external cardiac monitor or implant a loop recorder (LINQ). You can also buy a KARDIA device from AliveCor which will allow you to record your ECG using your smart phone (costs about 100). Very occasionally an invasive electro-physiology study (EPS) is required to gather relevant data to make a diagnosis. EPS In this test, the electrophysiologist will thread thin tubes (catheters) tipped with electrodes through your blood vessels to a variety of spots within your heart. Once in place, the electrodes can map the spread of electrical impulses through your heart. In addition, we can use the electrodes to stimulate your heart to beat at rates that may trigger or halt an arrhythmia. This allows us to see the location of the arrhythmia and what may be causing it. Sounds much worse than it really is. Treatment Depending on symptom frequency, the impact on your life and your preferences there are several options to treat. In most cases NICE - the National Institute for Clinical Excellence in the UK recommends medication, ablation or no treatment at all if symptoms are very infrequent and cause no problem. If an episode does not stop on its own after a few seconds or minutes you can go to A&E for treatment. Usually you would go home after the treatment and do not have to stay. Options include Carotid Sinus Massage (CSM), Adenosine infusion or a electrical cardio version. Carotid sinus massage. Don't attempt to do this on your own. A doctor will apply pressure to a certain part of your neck where specific receptors are located which occasionally stop the arrhythmia when stimulated. Vagal maneuvers. You may be able to stop an episode of SVT by using particular maneuvers that include holding your breath and straining. These maneuvers affect the nervous system that controls your heartbeat (vagus nerves), often causing your heart rate to slow and sometimes to stop the SVT. Patient information www.kentcardio.com Page 6! of 7!
Adenosin is a very useful and safe option to stop the arrhythmia as it selectively blocks the AV node i.e. the part in the heart required to keep the arrhythmia going. It is a substance with an extremely short half life of 5-10 seconds which means all of it has been removed from your circulation within a minute. This is very useful as an injection often causes an unpleasant feeling of breathlessness or a chest discomfort. It is however extremely efficient and safe. Cardioversion. In this procedure, a shock is delivered to your heart through paddles or patches on your chest. The current affects the electrical impulses in your heart and re-sets the rhythm to normal. Medications. If you experience frequent episodes of SVT, I may prescribe medication to control your heart rate or restore a normal heart rhythm. It's very important to take any anti-arrhythmic medication exactly as directed in order to minimize complications. Catheter ablation. Electrodes at the catheter tips can use heat, extreme cold or radiofrequency energy to damage (ablate) a small spot of heart tissue and create an electrical block along the pathway that's causing your arrhythmia. Safe and very effective. I hope this gives you some insight into SVT. For further questions please ask me at your next appointment. Patient information www.kentcardio.com Page 7! of 7!